Accessible Sauna Experiences In Milwaukie

By Guest Author: West Livaudais

As a wheelchair user, it’s rare to find truly accessible gyms, yoga studios, Pilates spaces, fitness centers or spas. So when I hear of a place that is accessible, I want to check it out!

In 2025, for the first time since my spinal cord injury, I tried sauna. Because I’ve lost my ability to regulate my body temperature, I wasn’t sure how my body would respond. I was more than fine in the sauna — I found that I truly love contrast therapy.

Over the last year, I’ve sauna’ed regularly and picked up some tips that may help other wheelchair users enjoy sauna and cold exposure safely and confidently.

I recently had the opportunity to check out two sauna spaces in Milwaukie, Oregon that are worth talking about: Koti Sauna and SaunaGlo.

Koti Sauna is a brand-new indoor/outdoor lux sauna tucked into the backyard garden of a home in a quiet residential neighborhood, just a few blocks from downtown Milwaukie.

From the moment I arrived, it was clear how much care had gone into the space. Think modern aesthetic — naturally lit sauna overlooking the garden, ceiling-to-floor sliding glass doors, smooth concrete, pristine green grass, and extra tall outdoor showers.

The sauna itself is spacious with a long low bench that is easy to access for multiple wheelchair users. It felt like a massive warm hug on a cold day. Since I was the only one there, Kristina, the owner, managed my wheelchair and checked on me every 10 minutes.

Koti Sauna offers options to accommodate guests of all mobility levels. 

The cold plunges are cold (52°F) and colder (42°F), situated near an outdoor covered patio with a firepit. For wheelchair users, cold plunge tanks can be tricky to use: getting in is usually manageable, but getting out is the hard part. Unless I have help, my go-to alternative is a cold shower. At Koti, that option worked perfectly. The cold outdoor shower and cool winter air gave me that exhilarating, contrast therapy chill I crave.    

As I was preparing to leave, I checked out the changing area. The bathroom and shower are modestly wheelchair accessible, equipped with grab bars and a fold-down shower chair. I’ve come to learn that in a world of barriers, no design can account for everyone’s accommodations. Modular accommodations, those that can be moved into place and customized to a person, and asking for help has never failed to help me navigate barriers. Koti felt like a place where accessibility isn’t an afterthought, it’s part of the intention.

SaunaGlo is located right in downtown Milwaukie, near the old City Hall building. It’s an urban, fully indoor sauna experience with a welcoming family and community vibe.

There’s a long ramp leading up to the front desk, which makes entry accessible. Inside is warm and humid. Massive south-facing windows fill the space with natural light. The changing area and bathroom are spacious with common lockers. The sauna itself is large and dark, giving it a silent intensity. The lowest bench has only two seats, so at times I had to wait to enter the sauna.

The staff was helpful. They managed my chair while I was in the sauna and checked on me. Their support made the experience easy.

SaunaGlo provides a relaxing environment from the moment you get inside.

The cold plunge tank is elevated up a set of stairs, so that wasn’t an option for me. However, there were two common showers, one with a showerhead and the other with a dump bucket. That worked well, though the warm indoor temperature made it difficult for me to get the chill I craved, so I ended up rolling outside between my sessions to cool down more fully.

SaunaGlo was easy, accessible and friendly with plenty of space to relax in a glowing indoor space.

If you’re a wheelchair user and have never sauna’ed before but are willing to try it, here are a few overall helpful tips about visiting saunas I’ve learned through my experiences:

Start slow. End early.
Keep sauna and cold plunge sessions short at first and drink lots of water. Pay attention to how your body responds, especially if you have impaired sensation and temperature regulation. End your session before you’re at your limit.

Don’t be shy about asking for help.
The sauna community, in my experience, is inclusive and supportive, so asking for assistance is easy. When I first tried sauna, I wanted to be independent so I would wheel my chair into the sauna and transfer onto the bench sitting on a cushion that I brought with me. I quickly learned that my titanium wheelchair and foam cushion quickly became scorching hot, and risked burning myself.

Now, I always ask someone to move my chair out of the sauna once I transfer. And I never want to be alone in the sauna. If the last person is leaving and I’ll be alone without my chair, I ask them to bring my chair to me.

Extra towel. Change in the car.
In general, most saunas I’ve visited don’t have accessible changing rooms. I usually bring extra towels and change in my car just to be safe. It’s not ideal, but if you don't know whether the sauna has an accessible changing room or not it’s the easiest and safest option for me right now.

Refreshed after a great day in Milwaukie.

Both Koti Sauna and SaunaGlo offered meaningful, if different, accessible sauna experiences. Neither space was perfect, but both were thoughtfully run by people who were willing to help, listen and adapt.

For wheelchair users, and really anyone whose body doesn’t fit neatly into “standard” wellness design, those things matter just as much as ramps and door widths.

Trying sauna for the first time after a spinal cord injury felt like stepping into unknown territory. What I found instead was warmth, community and a growing sense of confidence in my body. I hope more wellness spaces continue to design with disabled bodies in mind, and until then, I’ll keep exploring, asking questions and sharing what I learn along the way.